Retirement Party Part Three - And a Technique Video!

This is a technique I learned a while back from a fellow demonstrator Jackie Hart. It's called the "filter paper technique" - I've also seem a similar technique that's been called the "tissue paper technique." I like this better, though, because it uses the Creped Filter Paper from Stampin' Up! which holds up a lot better than tissue paper.

The amazing texture that results from this technique is hard to capture in a photo, but trust me, you will love it! It's like you stamped on beautiful artisan handmade paper! And it's so easy! Check out my how-to video below, or over on my YouTube channel.

Note that I used a few retiring products on this card that - as of when I'm writing this post! - are still available... but only while supplies last! I used the En Français background stamp (which I just finally bought myself and now it's retiring!), the Scallop Trim Border Punch, and Raspberry Ripple ink (the cardstock is no longer available).

Happy Stampin'! :)

Technique Video: Using the Hexagon Hive Thinlit Die as a Stencil

Hey there! Today I have another quick video tutorial to share with you. I made a card for a recent class where I used the Hexagon Hive Thinlit die to create a stencil. I used sponging to get a really fun and totally on-trend ombre effect. Check it out!

Pretty simple card, but what a great look! I also used Gorgeous Grunge to add even more texture to my card front. The sentiment and the label I stamped it on are from the Chalk Talk stamp set and dies. (Get them as a bundle to save 15%!) Easy-peasy! :)

Check out the video below, or over on my YouTube channel. Have fun with this technique! What other dies can you use as a stencil?

Happy Stampin'! :)

Retirement Party! Part Two

This is a card I made a few weeks ago for a class that I wanted to teach emboss resist in. I hadn't got around to sharing it yet, and now a bunch of the products I used are retiring! :( Let me give you the low-down...

The flowers are from Simple Stems, which is in the Occasions Catalog and will be available until May 31st. But if you like them, get your order in TONIGHT for FREE SHIPPING! I clear embossed them onto Whisper White Cardstock, then sponged on Summer Starfruit, Pistachio Pudding, and Baked Brown Sugar inks. The embossed areas resist the ink, leaving the white showing through where you stamped! Awesome! :)

The retiring products I used on this card that are still available (as of when I'm writing this post) are...
- Field Flowers (for the sentiment) - only wood-mount is left, and remember, these could disappear at any moment!
- Summer Starfruit ink
- Sponge Daubers (Stampin' Up! is the only place you can buy 12 of these at a time! $10.95 - what a deal!)
- Scallop Trim Border Punch

Get 'em while you can if you're interested! Place an order on my website or email me. Remember! FREE SHIPPING ENDS TONIGHT!

Happy Stampin'! :)

Retirement Party: Lacy and Lovely

Let's take a minute to celebrate Lacy and Lovely! 

This set is so pretty! I love it for super quick CAS cards, or for beginning stampers. Or step it up and try it out with a cool technique like emboss resist! :) I went the quick-and-easy route on the card I'm sharing with you today. The images in this set make awesome stamped backgrounds! I used Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, and Summer Starfruit on this card. (NOTE: Summer Starfruit is a retiring color, but as of the writing of this post, Summer Starfruit ink, as well as the Modern Medley DSP I used on this card, which is also retiring, are still available! Sadly, the Old Olive ribbon is sold out.)

Want to know my favorite thing about this set, though? The greetings! :) You know how i love mixed fonts! LOL. But seriously. These sentiments really have the perfect balance of every element... Not too feminine or masculine... They're not really large or long so they fit almost everywhere, whether you need a horizontal or a vertical sentiment... I definitely have reached for these greetings a lot! (In case you're wondering about the sentiment I used on this card, though, it's from A Dozen Thoughts, which is not retiring. I love it because it's got great general sentiments that are just a little bit more unique than the standards without being so quirky you never know when to use them!)

Remember: TODAY (Friday, April 25th) is the LAST DAY to get FREE (standard) SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS! Go to my website or email me ASAP to place your order!

Happy Stampin'! :)

TODAY IS A BIG DAY AT STAMPIN' UP!

** FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS APRIL 21-25! (Applies to regular shipping only.) Visit www.annakeyes.stampinup.net or email me to place your order. 

** RETIRING LIST - Released today! Check out the lists of retiring stamps and retiring accessories! Get your lists ready quick because there's a change this year: Both stamps and accessories will be available only while supplies last. But you can get free shipping! :)

** PLxSU - If you follow my Facebook page, you may have already seen that Stampin' Up! has teamed up with Project Life! I really can't even tell you how excited I am for these new products. If you're not familiar with the Project Life amazing, simplified, and streamlined approach to memory keeping, check out The Project Life website for an overview. Then watch the video below for more information on the Stampin' Up! Project Life Partnership. I'll be placing my pre-order today. You will be able to order from a selection of products (the same selection that's available for me and the other Demonstrators to pre-order) starting May 1. And with the launch of the new annual catalog on June 2, we'll all be able to buy from the complete line of Project Life products!

Technique Video: Painter's Tape Technique

Hello friends! Happy Sunday! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy All The Days! :)

It's a bright and sunny day here on Cape Cod and it's a welcome change from the 3 or 4 days of below-freezing temps we've just had. I'm wearing my favorite shades of mint and I got to go shopping for baby hat yarn yesterday and I'm happy!

And you know what else makes me happy? Fun new inky techniques! So I'm here today to share one with you. This one's called the Painter's Tape Technique. It gives a beautiful bold result that's great for card backgrounds. And it's just the right amount of messy! LOL :)

Here's the card I created to showcase this technique. I wanted to use the Hello, Sailor stamp set, so I was going for a nautical look. What says nautical better than bold stripes in red and blue?

(P.S. I used the Sale-a-Bration punch for the little banners, but you could just as easily cut them by hand. And the button is retired - sorry! Swap it out for the Basic Metal Buttons in the Occasions Catalog for a similar look.)

You can check out the video below, or over on my YouTube channel. I hope you have fun with this technique!

Happy Stampin'! :)

CCC#029: April Cards Challenge - Blue Skies and Yellow Highs

The April Cards Challenge from Catherine and Cathy Create is called Blue Skies and Yellow Highs! Inspired by longer days and spring weather, the challenge is simple: Use blue and yellow on a card.

Today could not be a more perfect day to be writing the post for this particular challenge! We have had sunny, warm weather two days in a row, which is so wonderful after the bitter cold and snowy winter we had here on ol' Cape Cod. We've had the windows open, laundry on the line, and time to spend outside! :)

This is a simple color challenge, yes, but I often find that the more open-ended the challenge, the more difficulty I have getting started. I was browsing Pinterest when I found this picture...

(source)

    

... and I was immediately inspired! I got the idea of using multiple sizes of circles from the mobile hanging above the chair. I love the pale color scheme, as well as the pops of gray. And chevrons! :)

I used Jennifer McGuire's "iron off embossing" technique for the background. It's hard to see in the picture but it has a great matte finish and allowed me to stamp Gorgeous Grunge over top of the emboss-resist background. The large polka dot and stripe circles are from the stamp set from February's Paper Pumpkin kit.

Thanks for stopping by today. Now head on over to Catherine and Cathy Create to see what the other DT members made! Link to your yellow and blue card and you could win a prize from Stampin' Up! Have a great week!

Happy Stampin'! :)





Blue and Yellow Happy Day Card Supplies 

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CCC #028: April Challenge - Fresh Beginnings Photo Challenge

Happy April! No foolin' - It's time for another Catherine and Cathy Create Monthly Challenge! :) This month we have a spring inspired photo challenge. It can be anything inspired by this photo...

(source)

As I've said in the past, I like to use the monthly group challenge to do something other than a card. So far, it's usually been some sort of 3D item, and this month is no different. Check out my take on the photo...

I decided to make a cute little treat pouch with a coordinating tag. I used one of the mini muslin bags (love these!) - I'd been wanting to try heat embossing on them for ages now!

I cut a square of cardboard to fit inside the bag so the ink wouldn't go through to the back side of the bag, and to help it lie flat. I used blue painter's tape to mask off stripes across the front of the bag, and then I generously pressed my Versamark pad all over the bag. I removed the tape quickly, then sprinkled Pool Party embossing powder over the whole thing. Then I just heat set it like normal! (Wait until you're completely done with the process before you remove the cardstock from inside the bag.) Eh voilà! An adorable striped muslin bag with great texture. I also replaced the plain drawstring with Primrose Petals ribbon to coordinate.

The tag is stamped with the Simple Stems stamp set. The sentiment is from Six Sided Sampler. I used a new-to-me technique - "the filter paper technique" - to get some great texture on the stamped image.  Here's a close-up of the tag.

Isn't that pretty? It sort of looks like the Mulberry Paper that Stampin' Up! used to sell. I'll be doing a video on this technique soon. :)

So that's it from me for today. Make sure you stop by Catherine and Cathy Create to check out all the inspiration from the Design Team... This is one not to be missed, trust me! :) If you're inspired to play along, make sure you link up your project because you might win some Stampin' Up! goodies! Enjoy the rest of your week.

Happy Stampin'! :)

Supply List

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